So although I wasn’t happy to see two old buildings demolished, I’m glad there will be a patch of green and trees in the middle of the Loop. The John Buck Company, developer of the neighboring 155 N. Wacker, is helping to develop this new downtown public plaza located at Randolph and Franklin Streets. Now for the fun part, Chicago taxpayers are footing the $7MM bill for this public plaza through TIF funds.

Earlier this week, my buyer closed on this 4Bed/2Bath single family home located at 3506 W. Huron Street in Chicago’s West Side for a great price of $15,500, around 80% below asking price! Now that’s what I call a deal. Granted, the home needs work and the neighborhood isn’t ideal for most people, but it’s ideal for smart buyers who can fix it up, rent it out, and sell it for a profit at a later date. Check out some photos of the home. Unfortunately, there aren’t any inside photos, just outside.

If you or someone you know are interested in buying a new home or selling a current home, feel free to email me at: jeffstewart@atproperties.com.

Rosebud owner plans late-night comfort food spot in River North

(Crain’s) — Rosebud Restaurants Inc. is planning a new eatery in River North that will feature fresh-made baked goods in the morning, comfort foods at lunch and dinner and a kitchen that will be open well past midnight.

The café, dubbed Eatt, is under construction and is slated to open by June at 6 W. Hubbard St., the longtime home of Vong’s Thai Kitchen, a popular Lettuce Entertain You Inc. restaurant that closed in December when its lease was up.

The concept is loosely modeled after European cafes that are open for breakfast – where diners often grab bread or pastries to go – and then cater to lunchtime, dinnertime and bar-time crowds, says Rosebud owner Alex Dana. Eatt will stay open until either 2 a.m. or 4 a.m.

“Chicago has certainly become a nightclub city, much more than it used to be,” Mr. Mott says. “You can only go to the Wieners Circle so many times.”

Rosebud, which is best known for upscale Italian restaurants and steakhouses, is looking to capitalize on the popularity of the Hubbard Street area for diners and club-goers. Mr. Dana says he also expects Eatt’s fare, items such as short ribs, hamburgers and tuna sandwiches, to play well in a difficult economy.

“It’s going to be a little higher-end comfort food with a real heavy value to the portions,” says Mr. Dana, whose Chicago-based Rosebud has 11 locations in the city and suburbs, including a Rosebud Trattoria in River North at 445 N. Dearborn St.

Mr. Dana first tested some elements of the comfort-food menu last year in west suburban Naperville, where he overhauled the menu of the Rosebud there to focus on items like hamburgers, chicken in a basket, ribs and hot dogs. The experiment lasted only about six months, though, as an outcry from the locals for the old Rosebud menu prompted Mr. Dana to reverse course.

He says the comfort food was well-received, though the family-oriented Naperville crowd was more interested in having Rosebud’s traditional Italian menu than they were in paying upwards of $8 for a burger.

“Sometimes you’re not as smart as everybody thinks you are, and you’ve got to be willing to eat a little crow,” Mr. Dana says. “The town was so caught up with our Italian culinary, they didn’t want to hear about burgers. They wanted their spaghetti back.”

That’s partly why Eatt will have its own, distinct brand separate from Rosebud, Mr. Dana says. He also thinks the River North location is well-positioned for the concept because of the tourist crowd along with nearby bars, restaurants and hotels.

“That location is so hot. There’s so much foot traffic,” he says. “There are a lot of people in the (restaurant) industry who work late and want a place to eat after work. There are all the people in their hotels. They don’t want to eat in their rooms….”

We’ve got a new listing to talk about! Only 1 day on the MLS and we’re already getting calls about it. This is a large 1Bed in the historic Manhattan building in Chicago’s Printer’s Row neighborhood, just North of Congress. Located at 431 S. Dearborn the home features an updated kitchen and bathroom, a great breakfast bar, and even enough space for a dining area.

The home also features hardwood floors throughout, very large windows which are great for letting in tons of sunlight, in-unit laundry, and tons of storage. The building features a doorman, bike room, and extra storage space. This home’s location is perfect! You’re a short walk away from all there is in the Loop, the El stops, Grant Park, and all of the restaurants and shops in Printers Row and State Street! Priced at $209,000!

Check out a couple of the pictures and for the full virtual tour, click HERE!

If you or someone you know are looking to buy, sell, or rent a home, don’t hesitate to contact me. Email me at jeffstewart@atproperties.com.

We’re having a Broker’s Open House tomorrow from 1130 – 130PM at The Fata Shackelford Group’s new listing at 2020 W. Grand Avenue, Unit C! We’ll be giving away free bottles of wine for the first agents who come by to take a look.

2020 W. Grand Avenue is a great 3Bed/2.5Bath duplex with 2,000 square feet. All 3Beds are located on the top floor and the rest of the living space is located on the other floor so this home ACTUALLY feels like a single family home. You get tons of storage, a great patio off the kitchen…great for grilling, and garage parking. The home is listed with @properties and is priced at $389,000! Take a look at some of the pictures.

Check out the full virtual tour for 2020 W. Grand Avenue by clicking HERE!